e things," replied Miss Virginia, with a little laugh. Then with
the manner of one who regretted this flippancy she added, "I think I
understand the word as you do."

"It seems to me we are too often content with a surface meaning," Mrs.
Millard continued.

"That is true," agreed Alex. "Now, there is no reason in the world why
these shopkeepers may not be ladies."

Mrs. Millard looked at her doubtfully. "Still," she interposed,
"ladies do not as a usual thing keep shops."

"No; they sweep and scrub and cook, and pretend they don't,--that is
the difference," put in Miss Sarah, crossing her knees and bending
forward with the air of one who had found a congenial theme. "I am a
paper-hanger, a painter, and a maid-of-all-work; and this is what it
usually means to be a lady when you are poor."

"Teaching has always seemed to me a most suitable occupation for a
woman," suggested Mrs. Millard.

"The day has passed, Caroline, when just anybody can teach."

"I don't know any girl who had a better education or was more studious
than you, Sarah," spoke up her aunt.

"And when Brother Willie died I didn't know how to write a check or
make the discount on a gas bill."

"I feel as you do, Miss Sarah. It is dreadful to be so ignorant as
women are of the simplest things," exclaimed Alexina.

"Still, I think it is more comfortable not to have to know about them,
don't you?" Miss Virginia asked timidly.

"What are you people talking about?" The question came from the
doorway, where Madelaine stood, a vision of such airiness, daintiness,
and ethereal charm that nothing else seemed worth a thought. Behind
her towered Wayland Leigh.

"May we join the party and help decide the burning question?" he
asked. "Don't get up, Miss Virginia; we'll find chairs."

"I know it is the shop," said Madelaine, floating across the room to
an ottoman beside Mrs. Millard. Madelaine, too, had an instinct for
the effective, and nothing could have made a more charming picture.
"Grandpa and Mr. Goodman were at it a few minutes ago. Mr Goodman
talks about an injunction."

"We began with the shop, but we seem to have switched off on to
education," said Mrs. Leigh. "One never heard such talk when I was
young. Then we had plenty of servants, and there was always some man
to attend to business. After the war I asked our old Malinda one day
how she liked freedom. 'Well, Miss Sally,' she said, 'I likes it, and
I don't like it. I tell you what, Miss Sall